A preference on axles?

I have a choice of two sets of axles to install on my 78 CJ5 and would appreciate your opinion on which one you would choose and why. Thanks

86 Dana 44/D30 (disc) WT 3.54

Factory Trac-lok AMC 20/D-30 (disc) NT 3.54

 

Dana 20? Do you mean AMC 20?
If so, I would go with the first combo.

AMC 20s have weak housings and 2 piece shafts. I wouldn't go through the trouble of a swap to put that in.

 

Corrected AMC, thanks

 

Dana 44 / Dana 30 more parts availability and stronger.

 

Chuck, I don't know enough about axles to give an intelligent opinion, but I do plan on picking up a set of AMC 20/30 axles to rebuild over the winter. If you decide on the 44/30 combo and want to part with the 20/30, lemme know! I won't be doing any hardcore rock climbing stuff that would require a HD axle set up.

 

Thanks, great replies, but I should give everyone a bit more info.

I own both sets of axles already
I will be installing a lift as well so that would be the time to swap
The NT AMC 20 with trac-loc needs a pinion seal and it’s good to go, D30 is good to go.
The WT D 44 is good to go, WT 30 I need to go through.

 

I am a dana 30 / amc 20 (one piece) and had no problems.
But I do like the dana 44 because it is a full floating axle

I say dana 60's front and back.

 

The Dana 44 in the back of mY '74 is "semi floating." The wheel can walk out if the bearing fails. I believe the '86 WT 44 is the same design.

What size tires do you intend to use? If you want to keep the jeep narrow, so the tires fit under the wheel wells and you can fit down tight trails, use the NT stuff. If you are looking for the wide rock crawler look, go with the WT.

 

go with te wide trac ull thank ur self if u going up with it i love mine mines a 20 an 30 not a 44 but wide trac any way lot more stable on teh trails

 

44/30

 

33" 12.5

 

Even with the your 360, you will probable be doing some 1st gear starts on the street with 3.54s. Might be easier with the WT to fit the 12.5s. I know the NT stuff is bolt on. Are the WT spring perches the same width as the '78 perches?

 

Yes, the 44 is a bolt on

 

wide track

 

44/30 combo, then uprade the WT30 brakes and hubs to the older stlye 6 bolt set-up and bigger brakes.

 

I plan to trim my inventory down to just two, I would like to build the 78 cj 5 360/T-18 for wheeling and the 79 SA for my DD/street.

 

Chuck,

There are alot of guys here that have trail tested both axles to the max. I have heard stories of both being strong. I haven't broken my AMC 20 yet, but here's some info I think you'll find interesting...

Check out...

http://www.jeeptech.com/convaxle/

They talk alot on this page on how to upgrade to a Dana 44, but not how to upgrade to an AMC 20. That says something. Also, according to this website, they ran out of AMC 20's during the final days of the CJ's, and dropped in Dana 44's on the final productions.

Jason
Tempe, Arizona

 

Having built a lot of both axles for various reasons, I'd go with the 44/30 combo. The wide track is nice for stability and turning radius. The 44 is a much better diff than the 20. The 44 doesn't use a crush sleeve (collapsible spacer) for pinion preload like the 20 does. These can relax under time and repeated loading causing problems. The tubes on the 20's are too thin and bend and there aren't enough rosette welds to hold the tube to the pumpkin properly. Before someone says "my tubes never bend on my 20", that's bull. When Warn was prototyping the Full float kits they were using BRAND NEW new old stock housings to mock everything up, and you know what? the brand new housings were distorted from welding at the factory! I've seen them bend outside of the spring perches, not just towards the pumpkin where it can be trussed. You'd need to upgrade to 1 piece axles to keep from spinning the shafts in the hubs. The 44 has much more locker options and just about every ratio is offered for it. I think you'd be money ahead to keep the 20 for the street Jeep and put the 44 in the trail Jeep. Just my opinion. Nickmil